Eddie Jones has accused Wales of trying to sabotage England’s Grand Slam bid as a war of words erupted over ‘Gypsy-gate’.

A day after Joe Marler escaped punishment for his now infamous ‘Gypsy boy’ taunt at Wales prop Samson Lee, Red Rose head coach Jones dropped the prop to the bench for Saturday’s French test.

He was keen to leave the sorry episode there and tried to shift the focus by publicly telling Dylan Hartley he was not guaranteed to keep his place in the side beyond this weekend's Six Nations finale.

Given that hooker Hartley is 80 minutes from becoming the first man since Martin Johnson in 2003 to captain England to a Grand Slam, it was a decent attempt.

But then the Welsh Rugby Union chose to issue a statement voicing dismay that Marler had not been sanctioned and Jones found himself dragged back over old ground.

Six Nations chiefs decided not to punish Marler but he's still out of the England XV (Image: Getty)